Regional countries to seek EU observer status

Regional countries to seek EU observer status

A new initiative proposes EU member candidate states be given an opportunity to more readily present their views in Brussels.

Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro seek observer status at European Council summits and EU council meetings. Herman Van Rompuy (right) is president of the European Council and Jose Manuel Barroso (centre) heads the European Commission. [AFP]

Turkey is gathering support for a new initiative with Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia to obtain observer status at European Council summits and EU council meetings, officials said.

States that have completed the EU membership negotiations have so far been present at EU summits and meetings as observers.

This is still a preliminary idea, said Gul Bujukershen Oral, first counsellor at the Turkish embassy in the EU.

"But, as the initiative matures, we will gladly publish it," Oral said.

One day these countries will be seated at the EU table even though some of them already function within the common market, said Ivica Bocevski, former Macedonia deputy prime minister for European integration.

"The EU countries have nothing to lose, and every step taken toward EU integration is more than welcome for the regional countries," Bocevski told SETimes.

Bocevski said each EU summit and meeting presents an opportunity for officials to discuss relevant issues with representatives of other nations, and under the new initiative the candidate countries would be able to present their views.

"I therefore see everything good and nothing wrong with this initiative, although I do not expect the EU will implement it immediately," he said.

Tanja Fajon, European parliament member from...